Churchill suffer 1-7 thrashing against Kuwait SC in AFC Cup

Churchill Brothers suffered a humiliating 1-7 thrashing at the hands of defending champions Kuwait SC in their last AFC Cup group match in Kuwait City though they have already made it to the next round.

New Delhi: Churchill Brothers suffered a humiliating 1-7 thrashing at the hands of defending champions Kuwait SC in their last AFC Cup group match in Kuwait City though they have already made it to the next round.

With the defeat, Churchill Brothers finished as Group B runners-up with seven points from four matches, behind Kuwait SC (eight points), as both teams made it to the round of 16.

Last night`s result at Kuwait SC Stadium meant that Churchill will not play their single-leg pre-quarterfinal match at home.

Under AFC rules, the top team of each of the eight groups will play their single-leg pre-quarterfinal match at home and Churchill could have earned that right had they even drew with Kuwait SC.

Nascimento Silveira scored the only goal for Churchill in the 48th minute.

Kuwait SC started the match on an attacking note and nearly scored after just six minutes when Waleed Ali crossed into the Churchill area but their Brazilian import Vergilio shot over the bar from close range.
The hosts, however, did not have to wait long as Ajab capitalised on a neat pass off Ali in the ninth minute to sound the board.

Kuwait SC scored their second goal in the 28th minute following a quick counter-attack led by Bashar Abdullah, who gave a pass to Vergilio and the Brazilian striker`s left-footer beat Churchill custodian Arindam Bhattacharya.

Ajab again found the target off an Abdullah pass 10 minutes before the breather to further swell the scoreline as Kuwait SC led 3-0 at the half-time.

Churchill pulled a goal back four minutes after the break when Nascimento reacted fast to a poor clearance from Musab Al Kandari and slotted the ball into the net.
Ajab completed his hat-trick in the 50th minute when he connected a Careca pass into Churchill net and then again struck seven minutes later.

But the scoring spree did not end there as Rogerinho found the net twice -- in the 76th minute and a minute into the injury time -- to round off the tally in Kuwait SC`s favour.